Compartment door latch



Dec. 5, 1939. E, N JACOB. 2,182,589

GOMPARTMENT DOOR LATCH Filed May l0, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l IIIIII Dec. 5, 1939.

E. N. JACOB: Y 2,182,589

COMPARTMENT DooR LATCH Filed May 10, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 umm" Patented Dec. 5, 1939 ATENT OFFICE .A

COMPARTMENT DOOR LATCH Edward N, Jacobi, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Briggs & Stratton Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application May 10, 1938, Serial No. 207,037

15 Claims.

nism, and refers particularly to improvements in latching mechanism for glove compartment Vdoors such as illustrated in the copending application of Edward N. Jacobi, Serial No. 178,954, filed December 9, 193'?. l

Latching mechanisms of this type comprise a hook bolt pivotally mounted from the door in position to engage and snap past a stationary keeperA as the door is closed and to hold the door closed by spring tension, suitable key controlled locking mechanism generally being provided to lock the bolt against movement necessary for opening the door. y

With this past construction, it was dicult to balance the spring tension of the hook bolt, as the tension had to be light enough to permit thev door to be pulled open against the latch spring by as much force as can be exerted through the thumb and forenger grasping a relatively small knob, and strong enough to hold the door closed against vibration and bouncing as the car moved over the road. Y

The present invention, therefore, contemplates as its'primary object the provision of easily operated means for positively disengaging the hook bolt from the keeper preparatory to opening the door.

More specifically it is an object of this invention to provide means for releasing the hook bolt from the keeper by pressing a lever or other suitable actuator toward the side of the customary knob so that the release of the hook bolt from the keeper is easilyeiected as an incident to grasping the knob between the thumb and foreiinger in the customary manner.

`Another object of this invention is to provide a bolt releasing device for the purpose described which is so designed that its application to a door Vlatching mechanism of this character is effected without material alteration in its design or construction.

With the above and other objects in view which Will appear as the description proceeds, this invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly dened bythe appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may be made as come Within the scope of the claims.

The accompanying drawings illustrate one complete example of the physical embodiment of 55Hthe'invention constructed in accordance with the (Cl. 'Z0-150) This invention relates to door latching mechabest mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the application of this invention to an automobile glove compartment door;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional View through the latch mechanism, with parts broken away and in section and with the hook bolt in its operative keeper engaging position;

Figure 3 is a View similar` to Figure 2, but illusl0 trating the manner in which the hook bolt is posi tivelyswung out o keeper engaging position;

Figure 4 t is"a sectional view through the door and its frame taken through Figure 1 on the plane i for the mechanism;

Figure '7 is a perspective view of the bolt releas- 20 ing device per se, shown separated from the latch mechanism ;A and i Figure 8 is aperspective View of the rear portion of the lock cylinder. f

Referring now particularly to the accompanyf ing ldrawings in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 designates an instrument panel of an automobile,

in back of kwhich a glove compartment 6 is` mounted. The open front of this compartment is adapted to be closed by a door 'Ihinged along its bottom edge. The door 'I is held closed by a latchv mechanism, indicated generally by the numeral 8, which is so designed that it ksecures the door closed upon slamming the door shut and also locks the same against opening when desired by means of a key controlled lock.

To this end the latch mechanism comprises al hook bolt 9 pivotally mounted from the upper free edge of the door, in a manner to be hereinafter described, in position to engage a stationary keeper I0 suitably fixed to the ceiling of the' glove compartment. In the present instance, thehook bolt is pivotally supported on the inner end of a cylinder lock casing Il which passes through a4*5 hole I2 in the bottom of an elongated ldepression 1 I3 formed in the door.

`The outer end of thecasing I IV passes vthrough a knob I4 whose inner end is shaped to t the 50 knob disposed'th'erein.

The assembled casing and knob are held in place by a cap I5 tted over the inner end of the casing and drawn toward the casing by a screw I6 to clamp the bottom wall of the depression I3 between it and the knob. A dowel pin I'I projecting from the inner end of the casing and passing through a hole in the cap aids in maintaining the cap and casing properly assembled.

To pivotally mount the hook bolt, the inner end of the casing is diametrically recessed as at I8 to receive the bolt, and the side walls of this recess have sockets I9 to receive pivot pins 26pmjecting from opposite sides of the hook bolt and preferably formed as an integral part thereof. The pivot pins 20 are engageable in the sockets I9 in the maner described in detail in the aforesaid e copending application. p

A compression spring 2I conned between the underside of the hook bolt and a spring seat 22 urges the outer end of the hook bolt upwardly to a keeper engaging position. Inasmuch as the upper edge 23 of the-hook bolt is inclined, it follows that in closing the door, the hook bolt is cammed past the keeper to snap in back of it v and hold the door closed when slammed shut.

If desired, the door may be locked shut by securing the hook bolt against movement out of its keeper engaging position. This is accomplished by turning a key controlled lock cylinder 24 rotatably mounted in the 'casing Il to a position bolt. As the link moves across the camsurface 2B, it swings the bolt against the action ofl its Y spring away from its keeper engaging position.

Motion is imparted to the link 26by means of f a-lever 29 pivotally connected at itsinner end with the link. This lever projects through a hole 39 in the door carried wall I3 so that its outer end is adjacent tothe sidey of the knob I4. Medially of its ends, the lever carries a lug 3|- which engages the side ofthe casing II- made y, accessible by a slot 32 through the side of the knob to provide a fulcrum about which the lever may be rocked to pull the link vacross the cam surface 28.

By having the lever 29 fulcrumed on the point v of the rounded lug 3l, sliding movement of the fulcrum point necessitated by the fact that thev link 26 is constrained to slide in a Xed plane transversely of the casing is permitted. If the lever were pivoted from the casing, either its l pivotal mounting or its connection with the link '26 would haveto have a degree of play which is objectionable.

Also, this manner of mounting the lever enables the knob I4to be slipped onto the casing I I at the final installation so that the knobs may be matched with other hardware of the automobile. This follows from the fact that the lever is free to be swung around its pivotal connection with the link 38 until it lies alongside the hook bolt 9 =and wholly within the confines of the circum-` ference of the casing Il. With the lever' inthis position, the knob may be slipped onto the casing.

It is also to be noted that the sliding wedge shaped link or cam 26'is held assembled with fincreased leverage provided by the long outer end of the lever, a comparatively light force appliedin this manner positively disengages the hook bolt from the keeper.

Upon vrelease of the lever, a spring 34 interposed between the lever and the side of the casing II rocks the lever about the engagement 'orits back edge with the bottom of the hole 38 closing the bottom of the recess i8, yieldingly to return the lever and the link 26 tol their normal positions permitting the hook bolt to be spring propelled to keeper engaging position.

From the foregoing description taken in Connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that this invention entirely obviates the need for critical tensioning of the latch spring by which the hook bolt is urged to its keeper engaging position, and permits a heavy spring tension to be used to insure against having the door open accidentally, Without making it diflicult for anyone to pull the door open.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. Door latching mechanism comprising: a

hook bolt; means pivotally mounting the hook bolt from the door; a spring yieldingly urging the liook bolt to its operative latching position; a knob on the outside of the door by which a pull may be applied to the door; and means for retracting Vthe'hook bolt preparatory to opening the door comprising, a member movable trans-,-

versely to the plane of motion 'of vthe hook bolt and'c'onstrainedto move in a xe'd path;- a cam connection between said member andthe hook bolt operable upon movement of Said'memberlv in one direction to swing the hook `bolt againsttl'ie4 action ofV its spring; and a lever connected at its inner end-with said member and fulcrumed at an intermediate point alongside of the knob so that movement of the outer endv of the 'lever-toward thelknob moves said member ina direction vto' I retract the hook bolt.

2.-Doorlatching mechanism-' comprising: a hook bolt; means pivotally mountingthe hook bolt from the door, a spring yieldingly urglngthe hook bolt.` to `its operative latching position; `a

knob fixed on the front ofthe door to provide end pivotally connected with said member and projecting through` a hole in the door alongside,

the knob, the edge of the hole providing` a fulcrum support for the lever; a spring actingonn the outer end of the lever 4to swingthe lever on said frulcrum support in a directionl holding-the bolt retracting member in an inactiveposition;

and another fulcrum support for -the opposite y side of the lever receiving support from the knob wherebyA the outer end of saidrlever may bede-.1,v

pressed toward the side of the knob to draw the bolt retracting member inra direction to effect' retraction of the bolt. I

3*. Door latching mechanism of the character described comprising: a hook bolt; means for pivotally'mounting the hook bolt on the door including, a lock casing extending through a hole in the door; a knob encircling the outer end of the lock casing; means on the innerend of the lock casing coacting with the knob to clamp the y'door between it andthe knob; a pivotal support forvthe hook bolt on the inner end of the lock casing; a cylinder in the lock casing; a connection between the cylinder and the bolt whereby the bolt may be locked in its operative latching position; a member slidably mounted in the inner end ofthe lock casing to move in a fixed path transverse to the plane of motion oi the hook bolt; cam means for swinging the hook bolt on its pivotal support in a retracting direction upon endwise motion oi said member in one direction; and means mounted adjacent to th'e knob iorimparting'bolt retracting motion to said member.

4. Door latching mechanism of the character described comprising: a hook bolt; means for pivotally mounting the hook bolt on the door including, a lock casing extending through a hole in thev door; a knob encircling the outer vend of the lock casing; means on the inner end oi the lock casing coacting with the knob to clamp the door between it and the knob; a pivotal support for the hook bolt on the inner end of the lock casing; a cylinder in the lock casing; a connection between thecylinder and the bolt .whereby the bolt may be locked in its operative latching position; a member slidably mounted in the inner end of the lock casing to move in a xed path transverse to the plane of motion of the hook bolt; cam means for swinging the hook bolt `on its pivotal support in a retracting direction upon endwise motion of said member in one direction; a lever member connected at its inner end with said bolt retracting member and projecting through a hole in the door to have its outer end in juxtaposition to the side of the knob; and means providing a fulcrum support for the medial portion of said lever so that the outer end of the lever is depressible toward the side of the bolt to impart a bolt retracting motion to said sliding member.

5. Door latching mechanism of the character described comprising: a hook bolt; means for pivotally mounting the hook bolt on the door including, a lock casing extending through a hole in the door; a knob encircling the outer end of the lock casing; means cn the inner end of the lock casing coacting with the knob to clamp the door between it and the knob; a pivotal support for the hook bolt on the inner end of the lock casing; a cyl-` inder in the lock casing; a connection between the cylinder and the bolt whereby the bolt may be locked in its operative latching position; a member slidably mounted in the inner' end of the lock casing to move in a xed pathtransverse to the plane of motion of the hook bolt; cam means for swinging the hook bolt on its pivotal support in a retracting direction upon endwise motion of said member in one'direction; a part depressible toward the side of the knob; means yieldingly urging said part away from the knob; and a connection between said part and the bolt retracting member whereby depression of said part toward the side of the knob draws the bolt retracting member in a direction to retract the bolt.

6. In a door latching mechanism of the charlarged head a hook bolt carried by the lockcasing biased to an operative position; a knob bored to. receive the' lock casing, said boreV being smaller than the enlarged head of the lock casing so that the knob is capable of assembly with the casing only from the rear thereof; a cam transversely movable inv the rear portion of the lock casing and engageable with the hook bolt for moving it out of its operative position; a lever pivotally connected with the cam and having its iree end'portio'n disposed alongside the knob;v

acter described: al lock i casing having. an en-v '7. Door latch mechanism comprising a supporting member; a hook bolt pivotally mounted on said member; a spring yieldingly urging the v hook bolt to an operative latching position; means for retracting the hook bolt including a manually operable actuator; anda cam connected with the actuator and slidably carried by the supporting member in position` to engage a portion of the hook bolt to retract the bolt, the connection between the cam and the bolt being such that the bolt spring acting through the bolt retains the cam and its actuator assembled with the supporting member.

8. Door latching mechanism comprising: a

supporting member mounted on the door; a hook bolt pivotally carried by said supportingmember on'the inside of the door; a spring for yieldingly maintainingv the hook bolt in itsI operative latching position; a knob on the exterior' of the door by which a pull may be exerted on the door; depressible means adjacent to the knob; and a part movably supported by the supporting member and connected with said depressible means and engaging the hook bolt for retracting the hook bolt upon depression of said means, the connection of said part with the hook bolt being such that the bolt spring acting through the bolt retains said part and the depressible means assembled with the supporting member.

9. Door latching mechanism comprising: a supporting member mounted on the door; ahook bolt pivotally mounted on the supporting member; a spring yieldingly urging the hook bolt to its operative latching position; a knob on the exterior of the door by which a pull may be applied to the door; a member slidably mounted on said supporting member and constrained to move in a fixed path adjacent to the hook bolt; a cam connection between said member and the hook bolt operable upon movement of said member in one direction to swing the hook bolt against the action of its spring; and an actuator connected with said slidable member and having a part disposed adjacent to the side of the knob, said cam connection being such that the bolt spring acting therethrough normally maintains the slidable member and its actuator assembled with the supporting member while enabling disassembly of said parts upon motion of the hook bolt beyond its normal retracted position.

10. In a door latching mechanism: a supporting member, said supporting member having a recess and a transverse slot communicating with said recess; a hook bolt having a portion thereof disposed in said recess; a separable pivot connection between said portion of the hook bolt and the walls of the recess; a spring acting on the hook bolt for yieldingly maintaining the same in its operative latching position; and a bolt Iretracting member slidable in the slot of the supporting member and engaging an adjacent portion of the' hook bolt to apply a retracting force thereon, saidbolt retracting member preventing disassembly of the hook bolt from the supporting member.

11. A door latching mechanism comprising: a supporting member having an open recess and having a transverse slot communicating with the recess; a hook bolt having a portion disposed in said recess; cooperating means on said portion of the hook bolt and the adjacent walls of the recess providing a separable pivotal connection by which the bolt is piVotally mounted on the supporting member; a spring yieldingly maintaining the bolt in its operative latching posirecess; a hook bolt having a portion disposed in said recess; cooperating means on said portion of the hook bolt and the adjacent walls of the recess providing a separable pivotal connection by which the bolt is pivotally mounted on the supporting member; a spring yieldingly maintaining th'e bolt in its operative latching position; and a retracting element slidable in said slot and operable to retract the bolt against the action of its spring, the connection between said bolt retracting element and the bolt being such that said parts mutually retain each other assembled with the supporting member while enabling disassembly of the retracting element and the hook bolt from the supporting member by movement of the bolt beyond its normal retracted position against the action of its spring.-

13. A door latch comprising: a knob; a hook bolt havingtrunnions; half bearings in the knob to receive the trunnions; a cam for retracting the hook bolt mounted in the knob in a position that presses the hook bolt trunnions into the half bearings by the cam 'engaging pressure; and an operating handle adjacent to the knob and connected to the cam.

14. A door latch comprising: a knob; a hook bolt having trunnions; half bearings in the knob to receive the trunnions; a cam for retracting the hook bolt mounted in the knob in a position that presses the hook bolt trunnions into the half bearings by the cam engaging pressure; an operating handle adjacent to the knob and connected with the cam; and cooperating stops between the door, the knob, and the operating handle to retain the cam and the Aoperating handle assembled in operating relation with the knob and hook bolt.

l5. A door latch comprising: a knob having a slot; a boltmounted thereon adjacent to the slot; a cam slidable in the slot; a cooperating cam surface on the bolt whereby the bolt is retractible by endwise motion of the cam; a handle lever connected with the cam and having a projecting fulcrum point adapted to bear against the side of the knob; and said door Wall having a slot to guide the sides of the handle lever and to limit its movement away from the knob.

EDWARD N. JACOBI.v 

